Car-coupling



(No Model.)

T. .0. BENBOW.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 496,449. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

ATTORNEY.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. BENBOW, OF VVALDEN, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,449, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed May 13, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. BENBOW, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Walden, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Oar-Couplers and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car couplers and the object of the invention is to provide a coupler which shall obviate the necessity of going between the cars for the purpose of coupling or uncoupling, and which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable and practicable in use.

To this end the invention consists of the features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through two adjacent drawheads showing my improved coupler in the coupled position. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of two drawheads showing the coupler in place. Fig. 3 is an end view of a car showing suitable mechanism for controlling the coupling bar, which is shown in the raised or unlocked position. Fig. i is an end view of the coupling bar and the supporting arm connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the coupling bar, and Fig. 6 shows the means for locking the bar in the raised or uncoupled position.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views let the numeral 5 designate the drawheads, which are provided with recesses 6 open at the top for the reception of the extremities 7 a of the coupling bar 7. Recesses 6 are of any suitable vertical depth, preferably extending about half way through the drawbar, thus leaving room below for the recesses 8 designed to receive the extremities of the ordinary link whenever it Serial No. 432.920. (No model.)

is desired to use the same. The body of coupling bar 7 is preferably rectangular in cross section. Its extremities 7 a are ball shaped or spherical and enter recesses 6 from the top of the drawheads. The outer extremities of the drawheads are provided with narrow openings 9 leading from recesses 6 outward. These openings are for the reception of the bar 7 when its extremities occupy recesses 6, and in order to give the bar sufficient lateral movement, openings 9 increase in size from recesses 6 outward to the drawhead extremities as shown at 10 in Fig. 2. Bar7 is connected by means of links 12 with an arm 13 rigidly se cured to a transverse horizontal bar 14. movably connected with the end of the car and terminating in crank arms 1 1 whereby the bar may be rotated without going between the cars for the purpose of raising the coup ling bar from the coupled to the uncoupled position.

It will be observed that in the use of my improved coupler only one coupling bar is employed in coupling the drawheads, but as both drawheads on each car should be provided with the coupling mechanism, when one coupling bar is employed, the other must be held in the upraised or uncoupled position as shown in Fig. 3. In order to lock the bar in this position, rod 14. is provided with a ratchet disk 15 engaged by suitable dogs or pawls 16 suitably pivoted on the car, and adapted to automatically engage the disks 15 as the bar 7 is raised. The coupling bar is lowered to the coupling position by disengaging the pawl from the disk. It will be observed that the forward extremities of the drawheads are curved or beveled at the top from the sides downward to openings 9 in order that the bar 7 may drop readily into place under all circumstances as when it descends out of line with openings 9.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In a car coupler the combination with the drawheads provided with the recesses open at the tops and the slots leading outward therefrom, the coupling bar having enlarged extremities adapted to enter the recesses in the drawheads, an auxiliary bar 13 connected with the extremities of the coupling bar by means of links, a transverse rod rotatably connected with the end of the car and attached to one extremity of bar 13 whereby as the transverse rod is turned the coupling bar is raised and the cars uncoupled, substantially as described.

2. In a car coupler the combination with the drawheads provided with the open recesses and outward slots, the coupling bar having enlarged extremities adapted to enter the recesses in the drawheads, and an axially movable bar attached to the car and suitably connected with the coupling bar whereby the latter may be manipulated in coupling and uncoupling the cars, substantially as described.

3. In a car coupler the combination with the drawheads provided with the recesses open at the top and the corresponding outwardly flared slots leading therefrom, the coupling bar having enlarged extremities adapted to engage the drawheads, the axially movable arm connected with the coupling bar and suitable means for manipulating said arm, substantially as described.

4. In a car coupler the combination With the drawheads having recesses open at the top and slots leading outward therefrom, the coupling bar fashioned to engage the open recesses and slots of the drawheads, the axially movable bar connected with the coupling bar by links, a rotating transverse rod attached to the car and connected with the arm, and means for automatically locking said bar in any desired position, substantially as described.

5. In a car coupling the combination with the drawhead provided with recesses open at the top and slots leading outward therefrom, the coupling bar having enlarged extremities adapted to enter the recesses in the drawhead, an auxiliary bar connected With the coupling bar and occupying a position approximately parallel with the coupling bar, a transverse rod rotatably connected with the end of the car and secured to one extremity of the auxiliary bar, another transverse rod movably connected with the end of the car and carryinglocking pawls engaging ratchet disks on bar 14 whereby the coupling bar may be raised and locked in any desired position,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. McOoNNELL, MURIEL STRODE. 

